The OSHA HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) Standard is specified by CFR 1910.120(a)(1)(i-v) and 1926.65(a)(1)(i-v).
The standard specifies guidelines, policies, and practices to protect employees who to deal with hazardous waste in their daily work, during cleanup or during an emergency response.
In general, the standard addresses five groups of workers. People who are involved in
- Cleanup Operations
- Corrective actions at sites that process hazardardous substances
- Treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes and materials
- Voluntary cleanup operations at sites recognized by federal, state, local, or other governmental body as uncontrolled hazardous waste sites
- Emergency response when hazardous materials are accidentally released or there is a substantial threat of release.
Of the five groups, the first four groups are location specific and the fifth is is not. The fifth group applies to operations regardless of geographic location.